The Countess looked at him with startled eyes: "What do you mean?" she said falteringly. "You are quite mistaken." "What?" he said, and his voice was a little stern. "Did you give away our watch, ma mère? I can hardly believe that much." The Countess's hands trembled. She fidgeted with her watch-chain, then looked across at Adrienne reproachfully. Adrienne spoke at once: "I have never told him, Aunt Cecily. Believe me, I have not. I think he must be a wizard." "It is a pity, ma mère, you do not take me a little more into your confidence, for I could assuredly prevent a good deal of robbery going on. Now will you kindly tell me how much you received for that, one of our most precious heirlooms?" The Countess's ready tears rose to her eyes. "Tell him all, Adrienne. I cannot. I am always in the position of a convicted naughty child." So Adrienne, with her frank, sweet eyes fixed on Guy's imperturbable face, gave a short account of the shabby transaction. And when she had finished, the Countess sobbed out: "A hundred francs, only a hundred francs!" Guy produced a notebook and pencil from his pocket in a business-like manner. "Have you the receipt from this builder which Monsieur Bouverie has paid?" he asked the Countess. She shook her head. "He keeps the bills; he does all my accounts, Guy: I have told you so, again and again." "Do you know if it is La Firmant Farm which he mentioned?" "Yes." Guy dotted it down and replaced his notebook in his pocket. Then he gave a little smile. "I walked into Bouverie's study to-day. It opens into their salon, as you know. He kept me waiting, and I just happened to glance up at the sun shining in there, and it caught the diamonds. The watch has already been hung up above the fireplace in a place of honour. I can fancy what a pleasure it is to Madame Bouverie." "But," cried the Countess, "it was an American who bought it. Don't tell me that Madame Bouverie is keeping it for herself?" "She has got it for a hundred francs," said Guy gravely; "I do not think, ma mère, that it is good to give away our heirlooms in such a manner." "What abominable thieves!" cried Adrienne. "Oh, Cousin Guy, I hope you are going to get it back." He shook his head. "I never interfere with your aunt's proceedings. If I did, it would only return again to the Bouveries later on." There was a dead silence. The poor Countess was white with horror and agitation. "To think that he should have dared to deceive me so! And she, she has robbed me! I could bear anything rather than this! Don't look at me like that, Guy! I didn't want to part with it, but you will never understand how hard pressed I am." "I think I could, if you were to tell me," suggested Guy quietly. But the Countess began to sob bitterly, and Adrienne knew that nothing would induce her to be perfectly frank with her stepson. At last she was so overcome with anger and misery that she said she would retire to bed.